Your nanny spends more time alone with your children than anyone else. If a child chokes, stops breathing or is badly hurt, help may be many minutes away, and what she does first can save a life or prevent lasting harm. A recognised and certified baby and child first aid and CPR course gives her the skills and the confidence to act. Make sure it includes hands-on practice and is refreshed every two years.
Why it matters at home
Most childhood accidents don't happen at school or on the road. They happen at home, often in a split second. These are the emergencies a nanny is most likely to face:
- Choking on food, small toys, coins or button batteries
- Drowning in a pool, pond, bath or even a bucket of water
- Falls and head injuries from changing tables, beds, stairs and jungle gyms
- Burns and scalds from kettles, hot drinks, stoves and bath water
- Poisoning from medicines, cleaning products and paraffin
- Seizures from a high fever (febrile convulsions)
- Severe allergic reactions to food, bee stings or medicine
Drowning is fast and silent. The World Health Organization lists drowning among the leading causes of death for children aged 1 to 4, and South African research shows drowning rates are highest in children under five. A toddler can drown quickly in just a few centimetres of water, often without splashing or crying out.
Every minute counts
When a child stops breathing, the brain starts to be damaged after just a few minutes without oxygen. In traffic, or in areas further from a hospital, an ambulance can take much longer than that to arrive.
That gap is where training makes the difference. A nanny who knows CPR can keep oxygen flowing until help arrives. One who knows how to clear a blocked airway can stop a choking emergency before it becomes one. And one who has practised staying calm will call for help, give the right information and keep the other children safe at the same time.
- Check for danger and respond. Make the area safe, then check whether the child responds and is breathing.
- Call for help. Phone 10177 or 112, or a private ambulance, and then the parents. Use speakerphone so her hands stay free.
- Start first aid or CPR. Use the right technique for the child's age, because babies, children and adults are treated differently.
- Keep going until help arrives. Then hand over clearly: what happened, when, and what she did.
These are the basic steps a course teaches in depth. They're not a substitute for hands-on training.
What a good course covers
Look for a course designed for babies and children, not a general workplace first aid course. Our one-day Baby & Child First Aid & CPR Course, taught by registered Nursing Sisters, covers:
Life-saving skills
- CPR for babies, children and adults
- Using an AED (defibrillator)
- Choking
- Bleeding and shock
- Anaphylaxis and allergies
- Seizures and febrile convulsions
Everyday emergencies
- Head injuries and fractures
- Burns and poisons
- Dehydration
- Childhood illnesses and medication
- SIDS awareness and safe sleep
- Home safety and calling for help
How to check her training
Many nannies say they've done first aid. These questions tell you whether the training will hold up in a real emergency:
- Can she show you a certificate? Check the provider's name and the date.
- Is it recent? Skills fade quickly. A refresher every two years is the norm, and many certificates are valid for two years.
- Did it include practice on a baby and child manikin? Online theory alone isn't enough for CPR.
- Was it for babies and children? Infant CPR and choking techniques are different from adult ones.
- Can she talk you through what she'd do? Ask what she'd do if your child was choking. A trained nanny answers calmly and clearly.
For more ways to assess a candidate, see our guide to the 15 questions to ask when interviewing a nanny.
Should you pay for it?
If your nanny isn't trained yet, paying for her course is one of the best investments you can make in your children's safety. A one-day course costs from R1,100 online or R1,300 face-to-face, less than many families spend on a single car seat.
- Peace of mind: you know she can handle an emergency when you're not home.
- Confidence: trained nannies stay calmer and make better decisions under pressure.
- Loyalty: investing in her skills shows you value her, and it builds her career.
If the course falls on one of her normal working days, treat it as a working day and pay her as usual. Agree in writing beforehand who pays the course fee.
Is your home emergency-ready?
Tick everything that's already in place.
Emergency numbers
Print these and stick them on the fridge, with your home address and the nearest hospital.
| Service | Number |
|---|---|
| Ambulance (public) | 10177 |
| Emergency from any cellphone | 112 |
| Police | 10111 |
| Poisons Information Helpline (24 hours) | 0861 555 777 |
| Netcare 911 | 082 911 |
| ER24 | 084 124 |
Private ambulance services may charge you if you're not a member of a medical aid that covers them.
Frequently asked questions
Is a nanny legally required to have first aid training?
No. There's no law that says a nanny must have a first aid certificate. But it's one of the most important skills she can have, and many families now make it a condition of employment.
How often should she redo the course?
Every two years. CPR guidelines are updated from time to time, and skills fade if they're not practised. A refresher keeps her confident.
Is an online course good enough?
Online learning is great for the theory, but CPR and choking techniques need hands-on practice on a manikin. If she does the online course, encourage her to practise the techniques with a trainer as well.
Should parents do the course too?
Yes, if you can. Everyone who looks after your children, including grandparents and au pairs, benefits from knowing what to do in an emergency.
What should be in a home first aid kit?
Plasters, sterile dressings and bandages, a triangular bandage, gloves, scissors, a digital thermometer, burn gel, saline for rinsing eyes, and child-safe fever and pain medication as recommended by your doctor or pharmacist. Check it every few months and replace anything used or expired.
Book a Baby & Child First Aid & CPR course.
One day, taught by registered Nursing Sisters, with hands-on practice and a certificate. Online or face-to-face in Randburg, from R1,100.
Sources: World Health Organization, drowning fact sheet; "A systematic review of fatal drowning in South Africa", South African Medical Journal (2018); Western Cape Government, emergency numbers; Domestic Angels Baby & Child First Aid & CPR Course.
This guide is general information. It doesn't replace accredited first aid training or medical advice.